The Hoosier State

Indiana State Nickname

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Bale of hay

Photo courtesy USDA NRCS Image Gallery: Grassland.

Official State Nickname of Indiana

Indiana designates "The Hoosier State" as the official state nickname. The name "Hoosier" is rooted deep in the history of Indiana and the original meaning is uncertain. Historians, folklorists, politicians, and everyday Hoosiers offer many colorful theories on the origin of the term, but no one has a definitive answer. All State Nicknames

What is known is that the nickname "Hoosier" came into general usage in the 1830's. It's one of the oldest and most popular of state nicknames. "Hoosier" identifies the state's rustic individualism, and residents of Indiana embrace the nickname with pride.

Indiana

Images

Lake Michigan shoreline in Michigan City, Indiana; photo by Tom Gill (lapstrake) on Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution / no derivative works).
Lake Michigan Indiana

State of Indiana USA (public domain image)

State of Indiana USA

Videos

How to Speak Hoosier, Episode 1 - "There's Lots of Uses of 'S"